What we loved: November 2024
Of course we're holing space for the movie of the moment...
I (Caitlin) have had one hand’s nails painted pink and the other painted green for most of this month. I’ve been wearing lots of green (I own more green) but I wore pink to the cinema. I listened to the movie’s soundtrack three times the day after I saw it. Personally, November has been about Wicked and it deserved top billing in our newsletter!
I can’t believe how good it was! It doesn’t feel too long, the story barely feels stretched (if anything I now believe the stage version to be very rushed). This movie was clearly made with so much care, you can see it in everyone’s performance, in all the little details. It probably is the best stage to screen adaptation ever made. I’m gushing but I can’t help it - it was perfect and I’m thrilled.
What did you enjoy reading, watching and listening to in November? Leave us a comment and tell us what you can’t stop thinking about!
*denotes review copy
Reading
Rare Singles by Benjamin Myers*
I had no idea what to expect from Rare Singles. What I got was an unexpected gem of a story about Bucky, an American man who believes his life is drawing to a close until he gets an invitation to perform at a Northern Soul weekend in England. In the UK, he’s greeted by Dinah. She’s one of his biggest fans and yearning for something to distract her from the disappointing aspects of her life.
Bucky and Dinah learn more about each other and themselves than they could have expected throughout the weekend. Rare Singles was a charming slice-of-life novel with just the right amount of humour. This is a story of faded relationships, faded careers and faded towns. But the story, writing and characters glimmer. Rare Singles, like the song you can’t stop singing to yourself, is hard to forget.
– Michelle
Lovestruck by Laura Jane Williams
Your ex texts you out of the blue - do you text back or not? In Lovestruck, the story splits and we see what happens when Becca does text him back and lets him back into her life, and what happens when she decides not to and opens herself up to finding a new love. The book alternates chapters to each possible reality, which is fascinating because we ALL wonder what if. Plus if what’s meant to be will be, do your decisions truly change your path or will you always end up where you’re supposed to be? I’m trying not to give too much away and I fear I making it sound a little more woo-woo than it is. This slightly magical element is really fun, but ultimately it’s kinda like reading two books in one.
– Caitlin
Penance by Eliza Clark
I love a book that plays with form and Penance is a brilliant example – written as true crime exploring the murder of a teenage girl in a fictional Northern English seaside town. The book is written by a fictional journalist who, we’re told at the start, has faced plenty of ethical questions over this particular investigation.
The story explores the murder of Joan, killed by three other teenage girls. The book unfolds through interviews, ‘research’ and transcripts of Tumblr posts and explores the lives of each girl involved. As you might expect, readers are forced to question the morbid curiosity around true crime and what slips into voyeurism, as well as the ethics around constructing ‘true’ stores.
– Michelle
Heartbreak Is The National Anthem by Rob Sheffield*
We sing it proudly. This book on how Taylor Swift reinvented pop music reads like speaking to your most dedicated Swiftie friends in the language only we know: lyrics, Easter eggs, inside jokes, and a bit of clowning. Written by Rolling Stone journalist Rob Sheffield, known for his ever evolving ranking of ALL of Taylor Swift’s songs (he keeps ‘All Too Well’ at the top and ‘Bad Blood’ at the bottom). This book isn’t a bio, in a way it’s not even about her - it’s purely about the work she’s created. Getting into the nitty gritty of her art, digging into albums, creative inspirations, and more. Honestly, I wish this book was longer! I understand that it would be overwhelming for some, but I do think there’s a market and a place for a larger and more in-depth analysis on Taylor Swift’s creative work and impact. Maybe post-Eras Tour and the Taylor’s Version project, that will be an interesting chapter to look back on. Never enough Swift analysis for me!
– Caitlin
Watching
Sweetpea
I love a show that makes me cheer on the person who would usually be the villain and Sweetpea is exactly that. Rhiannon feels ignored by all around her and, after the death of her father, finds her entire world crumbling. But being entirely overlooked by everyone might just mean she can get away with murder. This is a darkly comic show that Jack and I were hooked on. I’m really hoping for a second season and intrigued to read the book it’s based on (although I’ve heard it’s quite a bit different).
– Michelle
Netflix Christmas movies
Tis the season for cheesy festive movies! In November, Netflix released four new Christmas movies and I’ve watched three of them. I haven’t seen Meet Me Next Christmas yet, but I’m hearing good things. Hot Frosty and The Merry Gentlemen were both silly fun with some things in common: really hot shirtless men and enjoyable side characters, all of whom were doing a good job and clearly had fun making this movie. And a female lead who was not… So these two at least, in my opinion, are not the top of the Netflix bunch. But our final entry might just be: Our Little Secret. Lindsey Lohan and Ian Harding were childhood sweethearts and broke up ten years ago, meeting again as they realise their partners are siblings. Christmas shenanigans, family drama, and Kristen Chenoweth is the hilarious matriarch. What more could you want?
- Caitlin
Rivals
I’ll admit I’ve eye-rolled at the covers of Jilly Cooper books before (especially last year’s Tackle, featuring the boxer-clad torso of a man). However, The Rest is Entertainment’s discussion on this adaptation completely changed my mind. This show is gloriously, excessively 1980s. At its heart is a rivalry between the owner of a small television station in the Cotswolds and a politician that’s come from generations of wealth. But this truly is an ensemble cast and you’re quickly invested in the lives (and affairs) of everyone in the fictional county of Rutshire. The casting is great and the tone of the show feels just right. And yes, I’m definitely going to try reading the books.
– Michelle
Kim’s Convenience
So glad I finally hit play - I’ve had this on the ‘oh yeah I want to watch that’ list for ages. Made and set in Toronto following a Korean-Canadian family who own a convenience store. Give me a sitcom nerd moment: I don’t think I can think of another family show with adult children, it adds an interesting dynamic. Plus the store is a great sitcom base also, their friends and community are their regular customers. It’s so funny and quirky, only flaw is that it’s probably too easy to watch. I’ve been flying through it. Don’t judge me. But also watch it.
- Caitlin
Listening
Patrick Radden Keefe on Taking ‘Say Nothing’ From Book to Show on The Book Review podcast
I recommended Say Nothing as one of my top non-fiction reads of 2023, so it probably comes as no surprise that i was excited to see it adapted for the screen. We’re actually halfway through watching it and so far it’s incredibly gripping and translates well. This podcast episode explores a little more about the process of writing the book and, even more interestingly, how it was adapted. Author Patrick Radden Keefe was quite involved with the process and I found this chat with him fascinating.
– Michelle
Scroll past your recent listens
I have no new listening recommendations. This barely qualifies as a listening recommendation. I’m always listening to the same stuff and with Wicked on my mind, I realised I hadn’t listened to Ariana Grande’s music for a while. Her thank u next album still slaps, every song is a banger. Then I heard ‘As It Was’ in the supermarket or something and went back to listen to Harry’s House. Also still great. Gotta remember to scroll back in my recently listened/saved library more often.
- Caitlin
Christmas playlist time!
Okay, so technically this is a pre-recommendation but if I left it until December it would be way too out of date! And I’m blowing my own horn here by recommending a playlist I put together a few years ago full of brilliant festival songs. Enjoy!
– Michelle
The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore*
I recommended The Pumpkin Spice Cafe in our September newsletter and unless I can come up with a more unique recommendation, The Christmas Tree Farm might make an appearance in next month’s newsletter. Cosy, cute, sweet, spicy. Easy and fun reading (or listening) if the inter-connected romance series is your thing.
– Caitlin
Something else
Sims 4
I saw a meme recently that made a joke of turning 30 and reverting to all the things you loved as a teenager. Well, it’s basically true of me at the moment since I found out Sims 4 is free to play – and started re-watching Aussie hospital drama All Saints. But back to Sims: playing for a few hours, creating cute little houses and everything has been a really nice way to unwind after the business of working in retail at Christmas. Of course I couldn’t help myself and bought some of the expansion packs, but I love that they’ve made the base game free to download.
- Michelle
Eras Tour baubles
For approximately 270 days, since Taylor Swift brought the Eras Tour to Sydney, I have waited and searched for the perfect craft project to display my friendship bracelets. Suddenly, scrolling on Instagram, I was inspired! Baubles for my Christmas tree! After a quick Google, I was delighted to find a 10-pack of fillable craft baubles for only $6. It took me less than 15 minutes to sort my bracelets by Era, put the baubles together, and string curling ribbon in so I could hang them up. I’m thrilled with them and highly recommend if you also have a bowl/container/bag/something full of friendship bracelets.
- Caitlin